UFC Middleweight Rankings - Top UFC fighter rankings

FAQ & Rankings Criteria

FAQ for UFC Rankings

* These rankings are not official, nor do they reflect any affiliation with, sponsorship, or endorsement by the UFC. The official UFC Fighter Rankings can be found here.

UFC Rankings are comprised of all fighters currently signed to the UFC.

So, how do we compile our rankings? What separates us from other web sites that formulate rankings?

Here is our rankings criteria:
- Activity in the last 3 years
- Last 5 fights
- Most recent performance
- Strength of competition
- Performance against top competition
- Estimated ability against future competition

To make it simple, we only look at fights that have happened in the last 3 years of action. Thus, currently it is 2014, so the only fights that can be factored into a ranking are from the years 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. Anything before then is essentially wiped clean. Why is that? Fighters develop and decline rapidly. In order to provide rankings that are current and reflect what has happened in the now, rather than the past, we confine a fighter's activity to this 3-year window.

From there, we heavily utilize the fighter's last 5 fights. We look at these fights more so than any other action that may have happened in 2011 or 2012. We want our rankings to reflect how the fighter is currently performing. Therefore, if a fighter fights 12 times in the last 3 years, we will heavily emphasize their performance over the last 5 fights, rather than the previous ones.

There are many fighters sporting undefeated records from developing fight scenes, especially abroad. Something we take into consideration is the strength of competition they have faced. If a fighter has compiled a bunch of wins against competition that is lackluster they will likely have a difficult time moving up in the rankings until they face stiffer competition in order for us to accurately predict how they would perform against exceedingly tougher competition.

If a fighter has fought elite competition and fallen short, we factor in how they performed. If a fighter fairs well against a higher-ranked adversary, they could still move up in the rankings.

We watch every fight, including the prelims to try and provide our readers with the best rankings possible.

* (NR) = Not Ranked
Reasons for exclusions from rankings:
- Inactivity over 18 months
- Changing weight classes. A fighter must debut in their new weight class in order to officially be ranked there. Upon their debut, they will immediately be removed from their former weight class.
- Yet to debut in UFC. A fighter will not be officially ranked until they debut in the UFC.
- Retirement. Once a fighter is presumed retired based on interviews or lack of activity, they are removed from the rankings until further clarification is provided.

Men’s Weight Classes
Flyweight (125) – Bantamweight (135) – Featherweight (145) – Lightweight (155) – Welterweight (170) – Middleweight (185) – Light Heavyweight (205) – Heavyweight (265)
Women’s Weight Classes
Women’s Strawweight (115) – Women’s Bantamweight (135) – Women’s Featherweight (145)

#	Fighter	Last 3 Fights	Next Fight
	2017 UFC Signings: David Branch Paulo Henrique Costa	2017 UFC Cuts: Chris Camozzi Garreth McLellan Scott Askham Dongi Yang Elvis Mutapcic Joe Gigliotti Adam Hunter Ricardo Abreu (retired) Tim Kennedy (retired)
01	Michael Bisping 30-7 (20-7 UFC)	W-Dan Henderson (DEC) W-Luke Rockhold (KO) W-Anderson Silva (DEC)
02	Yoel Romero 12-1 (8-0 UFC)	W-Chris Weidman (KO) W-Ronaldo Souza (DEC) W-Lyoto Machida (KO)	Robert Whittaker 07/08/2017
03	Luke Rockhold 15-3 (5-2 UFC)	L-Michael Bisping (KO) W-Chris Weidman (TKO) W-Lyoto Machida (SUB)
04	Robert Whittaker 18-4 (9-2 UFC)	W-Ronaldo Souza (TKO) W-Derek Brunson (TKO) W-Rafael Natal (DEC)	Yoel Romero 07/08/2017
05	Ronaldo Souza 24-5 (7-2 UFC)	L-Robert Whittaker (TKO) W-Tim Boetsch (SUB) W-Vitor Belfort (TKO)
06	Gegard Mousasi 42-6-2 (9-3 UFC)	W-Chris Weidman (TKO) W-Uriah Hall (TKO) W-Vitor Belfort (TKO)
07	Chris Weidman 13-3 (9-3 UFC)	L-Gegard Mousasi (TKO) L-Yoel Romero (KO) L-Luke Rockhold (TKO)	Kelvin Gastelum 07/22/2017
08	Anderson Silva 34-8 (17-4 UFC)	W-Derek Brunson (DEC) L-Daniel Cormier (DEC) L-Michael Bisping (DEC)
09	Derek Brunson 17-5 (8-3 UFC)	W-Daniel Kelly (KO) L-Anderson Silva (DEC) L-Robert Whittaker (TKO)
10	Vitor Belfort 26-14 (15-10 UFC)	W-Nate Marquardt (DEC) L-Kelvin Gastelum (TKO) L-Gegard Mousasi (TKO)
11	Johny Hendricks 18-6 (13-6 UFC)	W-Hector Lombard (DEC) L-Neil Magny (DEC) L-Kelvin Gastelum (DEC)	Tim Boetsch 06/25/2017
12	David Branch 21-3 (3-2 UFC)	W-Krzysztof Jotko (DEC) W-Louis Taylor (SUB) W-Vinny Magalhaes (DEC)
13	Krzysztof Jotko 19-2 (6-2 UFC)	L-David Branch (DEC) W-Thales Leites (DEC) W-Tamdan McCrory (KO)
14	Thales Leites 27-7 (12-6 UFC)	W-Sam Alvey (DEC) L-Krzysztof Jotko (DEC) W-Chris Camozzi (SUB)
15	Tim Boetsch 20-11 (11-10 UFC)	L-Ronaldo Souza (SUB) W-Rafael Natal (KO) W-Josh Samman (TKO)	Johny Hendricks 06/25/2017
16	Brad Tavares 14-4 (9-4 UFC)	W-Caio Magalhaes (DEC) L-Robert Whittaker (KO) W-Nate Marquardt (DEC)	Elias Theodorou 07/07/2017
17	Hector Lombard 34-7-1 (3-5 UFC)	L-Johny Hendricks (DEC) L-Dan Henderson (KO) L-Neil Magny (TKO)	Anthony Smith 08/19/2017
18	Uriah Hall 11-8 (4-6 UFC)	L-Gegard Mousasi (TKO) L-Derek Brunson (TKO) L-Robert Whittaker (DEC)
19	Sam Alvey 30-9 (7-4 UFC)	L-Thales Leites (DEC) W-Nate Marquardt (DEC) W-Alex Nicholson (DEC)	Rashad Evans 08/05/2017
20	Daniel Kelly 13-2 (6-2 UFC)	L-Derek Brunson (KO) W-Rashad Evans (DEC) W-Chris Camozzi (DEC)
21	Antonio Carlos Jr. 8-2 (5-2 UFC)	W-Eric Spicely (SUB) W-Marvin Vettori (DEC) W-Leonardo Guimaraes (SUB)
22	Eric Spicely 10-2 (2-2 UFC)	L-Antonio Carlos Jr. (SUB) W-Alessio di Chirico (SUB) W-Thiago Santos (SUB)
23	Thiago Santos 14-5 (6-4 UFC)	W-Jack Marshman (TKO) L-Eric Spicely (SUB) L-Gegard Mousasi (TKO)	Gerald Meerschaert 07/08/2017
24	Nate Marquardt 35-18-2 (13-11 UFC)	L-Vitor Belfort (DEC) L-Sam Alvey (DEC) W-Tamdan McCrory (KO)
25	Elias Theodorou 13-1 (5-1 UFC)	W-Cezar Ferreira (DEC) W-Sam Alvey (DEC) L-Thiago Santos (DEC)	Brad Tavares 07/07/2017
26	Rafael Natal 20-8-1 (8-6-1 UFC)	L-Tim Boetsch (KO) L-Robert Whittaker (DEC) W-Kevin Casey (TKO)	Alessio di Chirico 07/22/2017
27	Cezar Ferreira 11-6 (7-4 UFC)	L-Elias Theodorou (DEC) W-Jack Hermansson (SUB) W-Anthony Smith (DEC)
28	Paulo Henrique Costa 10-0 (2-0 UFC)	W-Oluwale Bamgbose (TKO) W-Garreth McLellan (TKO) W-Adriano Silverio (KO)
29	Rashad Evans 19-6-1 (14-6-1 UFC)	L-Daniel Kelly (DEC) L-Glover Teixeira (KO) L-Ryan Bader (DEC)	Sam Alvey 08/05/2017
30	Anthony Smith 26-13 (2-3)	W-Andrew Sanchez (KO) W-Elvis Mutapcic (TKO) L-Cezar Ferreira (DEC)	Hector Lombard 08/19/2017
31	Andrew Sanchez 9-3 (2-1 UFC)	L-Anthony Smith (KO) W-Trevor Smith (DEC) W-Khalil Rountree (DEC)
32	Trevor Smith 15-7 (5-4 UFC)	W-Chris Camozzi (DEC) L-Andrew Sanchez (DEC) W-Joe Gigliotti (DEC)
33	Jack Hermansson 15-3 (2-1 UFC)	W-Alex Nicholson (TKO) L-Cezar Ferreira (SUB) W-Scott Askham (DEC)	Bradley Scott 08/05/2017
34	Gerald Meerschaert 26-8 (2-0 UFC)	W-Ryan Janes (SUB) W-Joe Gigliotti (SUB) W-Chase Waldon (SUB)	Thiago Santos 07/08/2017
35	Jack Marshman 21-6 (1-1 UFC)	L-Thiago Santos (TKO) W-Magnus Cedenblad (TKO) W-Christopher Jacquelin (TKO)	Ryan Janes 07/16/2017
36	Magnus Cedenblad 14-5 (4-2 UFC)	L-Jack Marshman (TKO) W-Garreth McLellan (TKO) W-Scott Askham (DEC)
37	Vitor Miranda 12-5 (3-2 UFC)	L-Chris Camozzi (DEC) W-Marcelo Guimaraes (TKO) W-Clint Hester (TKO)	Marvin Vettori 06/25/2017
38	Bradley Scott 11-4 (3-3 UFC)	W-Scott Askham (DEC) L-Krzysztof Jotko (DEC) W-Dylan Andrews (SUB)	Jack Hermansson 08/05/2017
39	Martin Vettori 11-3 (1-1 UFC)	L-Antonio Carlos Junior (DEC) W-Alberto Uda (SUB) W-Igor Araujo (SUB)	Vitor Miranda 06/25/2017
40	Alessio di Chirico 10-2 (1-2 UFC)	L-Eric Spicely (SUB) W-Gareth McLellan (DEC) L-Bojan Velickovic (DEC)	Rafael Natal 07/22/2017
41	Oluwale Bamgbose 6-3 (1-3 UFC)	L-Paulo Henrique Costa (TKO) L-Cezar Ferreira (DEC) W-Daniel Sarafian (KO)
42	Alex Nicholson 7-4 (1-3 UFC)	L-Jack Hermansson (TKO) L-Sam Alvey (DEC) W-Devin Clark (KO)
43	Ryan Janes 9-2 (1-1 UFC)	L-Gerald Meerschaert (SUB) W-Keith Berish (DEC) W-Brendan Kornberger (SUB)	Jack Marshman 07/16/2017
44	Keith Berish 5-1 (0-1 UFC)	L-Ryan Janes (DEC) NC-Robert Drysdale (NC) W-Ariel Sepulveda (SUB)

	Ineligible for Rankings

*	Kelvin Gastelum 14-2 (9-2 UFC)	W-Vitor Belfort (TKO) W-Tim Kennedy (TKO) W-Johny Hendricks (DEC)	Chris Weidman 07/22/2017 Suspensed
*	Lyoto Machida 22-7 (14-7 UFC)	L-Yoel Romero (KO) L-Luke Rockhold (SUB) W-C.B. Dollaway (TKO)	Suspensed
*	C.B. Dollaway 15-8 (9-8 UFC)	L-Nate Marquardt (KO) L-Michael Bisping (DEC) L-Lyoto Machida (TKO)	Ed Herman 07/07/2017 Inactivity over 15 months
*	Antonio Braga Neto 9-2 (1-1 UFC)	L-Clint Hester (DEC) W-Anthony Smith (SUB) W-Brock Larson (SUB)	Inactivity over 15 months
*	Marcelo Guimaraes 9-2-1 (2-2 UFC)	L-Vitor Miranda (TKO) W-Andy Enz (DEC) L-Hyun Gyu Lim (KO)	Inactivity over 15 months

jerjapan

Love this site, but you got Spicely and Alvey mixed up … Alvey is the one on the four fight winning streak with a recent victory over the guy ranked ahead of him …
- Patrick Johnson
  
  Went to Spicely’s record says he has lost 1 but if you scroll down it shows he lost to Alvey and sanchez..
- D.C. Ross
  
  I hear you on Spicely vs. Alvey. Reminds me of when Brenneman defeated Rick Story. Yes, Alvey submitted Spicely, but after that Alvey lost a decision to Elias Theodorou. Elias was then soundly beaten by Thiago Santos. Then in a huge upset, Spicely submitted Santos.
  
  Until a few things sort out, the timeline is…Spicely>Santos>Theodorou>Alvey. Many can argue that Alvey’s biggest win is Marquardt, but remember, Santos beat Marquardt and Spicely beat Santos afterwards.
Patrick Johnson

I think your tuff 23 winner will rise in this chart after his next fight. He is your #31 but already beat your # 19. That kid is tough/tuff/tough! He seems to get better every fight.
- D.C. Ross
  
  Sanchez has looked real good. All he needs is a step up in competition to prove he belongs amongst the elite. He does have that win over Spicely, but that was prior to Spicely upsetting Thiago Santos. Thank you for your insight.
A.K johnson

He killed by marshman
Mr.Snrub

CM Punk is gonna die in the Octagon isn’t he?
Marcelo Menezes

I wanna see Francis Carmont x Ronaldo Souza
- Marcelo Menezes
  
  Thanks UFC!!!
  - D.C. Ross
    
    Agreed, thanks to the UFC and all of the fighters that give up time with their families to entertain us.
    - Andrew Craig
      
      Carmont entertains you?
Joe

Jake Shields has moved back to Welterweight:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1529891-jake-shields-returns-to-welterweight-targets-jake-ellenberger-or-carlos-condit
- rankingmma
  
  Thank you for the link and update. The change has been made.
rankingmma

Done!
admin

I do count it as a loss, but look at what was happening before the illegal shots were landed. Cote was rocked by Sakara’s big elbows and would have likely been finished had Sakara landed some legal blows.

I want you to look back at Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater before thinking I am crazy for the new rankings. Did you have Prater ranked above Silva after the DQ? I don’t think anyone did because Silva was surely going to win the fight had he not been disqualified. It is the same exact situation here with Cote-Sakara.
Jerry Clark

Shoulb be Bisping Vs Weidmen and winnner should get
title shot.
dWd

Vitor Belfort should be No2,right?
dWd

Well i was wrong about Stann and Bisping,Bisping fought smart and got the win.I agree with you putting him as No.1 contender,but i think there’s little chance of him points fighting his way to victory over Silva.As far as my rankings go,i’m moving Stann down rather than Bisping up.
- admin
  
  It’s still tough ranking Bisping ahead of Weidman, but Weidman is lacking overall experience against the elite of the division. We know what we have with Bisping, a well-rounded fighter that has been able to hold his own against everyone not named Dan Henderson.
  
  Stann’s ground game is still holding him back and likely always will. All of his recent losses (Bisping, Sonnen, Davis, Soszynski) were attributed to him being taken down to the ground. Stann hits like a truck, but he can’t do that from his back.
  
  Anderson Silva vs. Bisping does not bode well for “The Count,” but he deserves his shot more so than some other former title challengers (Leites, Cote, Maia). Bisping has fought 17 times for the UFC since TUF 3. He has basically carried the flag for England’s MMA scene over the last 5 years. Plus, Silva vs. Bisping will create a lot more hype rather than Silva vs. Weidman. Sure, Weidman has the better chance of beating Silva, but Weidman is also just a few fights into his UFC career. This might be Bisping’s best and only shot at fighting for a title.
  - dWd
    
    Bisping is no chance if were being honest. Weidman needs clear win over Tim Boetsch now to pressure Dana to put him ahead of Bisping.
    - admin
      
      Yes, you are correct on both points. I wouldn’t mind seeing Bisping vs. Franklin in the meantime. People are sleeping on Franklin due to his age and inactivity, but the guy has more than held his own at MW. Bisping/Franklin could probably headline a European fight card. Of course this is all dependent on Franklin beating Cung Le next month.
dWdHELLCAT

i have stann at 5 and bisping at 10,and stann wins,probably by knockout,but hey we’ll see. and has vitor really moved to LHW? or is his fight with jones just a one off? and i’m gunna wait till sonnen actually fights at LHW before i rank him as one.
- admin
  
  I think Stann is a solid pick in this fight, but Bisping’s underrated wrestling may be the difference maker. As for Belfort, I agree with you, he is probably moving back to middleweight should he lose.

FAQ for UFC Rankings
* These rankings are not official, nor do they reflect any affiliation with, sponsorship, or endorsement by the UFC. The official UFC Fighter Rankings can be found here.
UFC Rankings are comprised of all fighters currently signed to the UFC. So, how do we compile our rankings? What separates us from other web sites that formulate rankings? Here is our rankings criteria: - Activity in the last 3 years - Last 5 fights - Most recent performance - Strength of competition - Performance against top competition - Estimated ability against future competition To make it simple, we only look at fights that have happened in the last 3 years of action. Thus, currently it is 2014, so the only fights that can be factored into a ranking are from the years 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. Anything before then is essentially wiped clean. Why is that? Fighters develop and decline rapidly. In order to provide rankings that are current and reflect what has happened in the now, rather than the past, we confine a fighter's activity to this 3-year window. From there, we heavily utilize the fighter's last 5 fights. We look at these fights more so than any other action that may have happened in 2011 or 2012. We want our rankings to reflect how the fighter is currently performing. Therefore, if a fighter fights 12 times in the last 3 years, we will heavily emphasize their performance over the last 5 fights, rather than the previous ones. There are many fighters sporting undefeated records from developing fight scenes, especially abroad. Something we take into consideration is the strength of competition they have faced. If a fighter has compiled a bunch of wins against competition that is lackluster they will likely have a difficult time moving up in the rankings until they face stiffer competition in order for us to accurately predict how they would perform against exceedingly tougher competition. If a fighter has fought elite competition and fallen short, we factor in how they performed. If a fighter fairs well against a higher-ranked adversary, they could still move up in the rankings. We watch every fight, including the prelims to try and provide our readers with the best rankings possible. * (NR) = Not Ranked Reasons for exclusions from rankings: - Inactivity over 18 months - Changing weight classes. A fighter must debut in their new weight class in order to officially be ranked there. Upon their debut, they will immediately be removed from their former weight class. - Yet to debut in UFC. A fighter will not be officially ranked until they debut in the UFC. - Retirement. Once a fighter is presumed retired based on interviews or lack of activity, they are removed from the rankings until further clarification is provided.